Non-linear response of laminated plates and shells to thermomechanical loading: Implications of violation of interlaminar shear traction continuity requirement

A number of results focusing on the implications brought by the violation of the inter-laminar shear traction continuity requirement on the non-linear response of shear deformable laminated flat and curved panels subjected to thermomechanical loading are presented. The results cover a large number of situations, and in this context, the effects of transverse shear, tangential edge constraints, shell curvature, initial geometric imperfections, lateral pressure and compressive edge loads, membrane and thicknesswise temperature gradient, presence of a Winkler linear/non-linear foundation, coupled with that of the fulfilment/violation of the shear traction interlaminar continuity requirement upon the static and dynamic non-linear response of laminated plates and shells are highlighted. In order to address this problem, as a necessary pre-requisite, a higher-order geometrically non-linear laminated shell model fulfilling both the kinematical and shear traction interlaminar continuity requirements and incorporating the previously mentioned effects is presented. The results obtained in the framework of this laminated shell model are compared with the ones obtained within a higher-order shell model in which the kinematic interlaminar continuity conditions are solely satisfied, and the implications resulting from the violation of the shear traction interlaminar continuity requirement are highlighted.